The Poetry of Sarah Fyge

Sarah Fyge (1668?-1723) was one of the earliest radical writers in women's literature. As a teenager she wrote a long poem to refute misogynistic calumnies, and she continued to assert the right of her sex to share privileges claimed by men. She was married twice and led a turbulent emotional life. Her surviving poetry covers many themes - erotic, philosophical, patriotic, autobiographical - and, for its liveliness and intelligence, deserves to be much more widely known. This selection introduces readers to her most accessible, enjoyable, witty and trenchant work.